Keeping Track of Baby Milestones: 3 to 6 Months

Parenting • Updated November 28, 2022

Young Chinese American baby boy laying on his tummy on the couch.

Occupational Therapist

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Watching our babies grow is one of the most exciting and heartbreaking things, right?! As moms, we always want what’s best for our kiddos, which is why keeping track of your baby’s milestones is important. In doing so, you’ll be able to stay up-to-date with making sure your baby is on track and can take action if necessary should there be any red flags (don’t worry, we’ll go over this below)!

Every baby’s milestone timeline is unique.

Before I dive into 3 to 6-month milestones, remember that every child is unique, and so is their development. It’s often easy to compare babies to others, so remember to focus on YOUR BABY and provide an environment to help them THRIVE! Developmentally, kiddos can fluctuate when they hit milestones, which can sometimes cause moms stress. You may notice your child hits a milestone early or is a little late, and honestly, mama, either one of these is fine! But what about when it’s not fine? So glad you asked!

If you notice any red flags, such as severe delay, complications, abnormalities, or your child is not hitting certain milestones, reach out to your pediatrician or healthcare provider. There are many things that early interventionists or therapists can do to help your baby thrive. Understanding and knowing baby milestones are important to help you stay on top of proper development and the well-being of your kiddo!

Tiny personalities are emerging!

And speaking of well-being, isn’t the 3- to 6-month stage so fun?! Your sweet baby should start developing a little personality and is beginning to increase in all of their developmental skills, including communication, mobility, strength, and cognitive development.

As moms, it’s easy for us to rush through this season, but remember, motherhood is such a short and fleeting season! Take every day to truly embrace the magic of motherhood and the amazing miracle that your sweet baby is! I’ve embraced this mindset with my babies, which has helped me be more present and involved.

Now let’s get to those 3 to 6 months milestones, mama!

Baby Milestones: 3 to 6 Months Old

Speech and Communication

Cooing
Babbles
Exploration of different sounds
Turns head to noise or sound

Social + Emotional

Smiles
Improved eye contact
Giggles (cutest ever, right?!)
Some reading of facial expressions
Improved interaction and engagement with others
Shows a preference for cause-and-effect toys
Shows a preference for people and surroundings
Typically happy and can calm with sensory input like snuggling, rocking, soft sounds, and comfort from a caregiver

Physical/Gross Motor

Beginning to lift chest and head off the floor while laying on tummy
Rocking on stomach
Begins to roll over (back to tummy and tummy to back)
Begins to use their hands for support while sitting
Can sit alone
Begins to stand with support and can distribute weight in both legs

Fine Motor

Identifies fingers and hands
Starts to grasp objects (like a rattle!)
Begins to reach for objects
Begins to use both hands at midline
Can transfer objects between hands

Feeding

Begins to show a preference for foods
May start to tolerate purées
Able to sit supported in a chair for feeding
Improved oral motor control to move food from the front of the mouth to the back

Remember, mama! Milestones are a marker, and every child will develop at a different rate. Use this as a guide to keep yourself and your baby on track. Knowing key milestones and taking early action if something is off is important for addressing delays and optimizing intervention outcomes.

Continue encouraging optimal development.

As you continue to learn about your baby and milestones, take action to help your baby thrive! To create an optimal environment for development, try these ideas: